I have an interesting situation that requires I relocate to PHX for a year and I need to do so in the next 3 weeks. I'm thinking I might just take me 5th wheel and live in it. This relocation is for work. I am 55+ and will need to commute daily to the downtown area.What I am looking for are suggestions on where to locate the 5th wheel that would be a decent commutable distance to downtown yet a nice place to live as well.Any ideas for me?Thanks!

I imagine the close by areas will be expensive and perhaps closed camp grounds etc... Look at the APACHE JUNCTION area or around the several RV places there. Great camping under the superstition mtns and the infamous Apache Trail...Also some great places in the Casa Grande area and south of Maricopa town called JOHN WAYNE RV ranch... You are not in the PHX metroplex here at all and Interstate for getting to work. It might be to far away tho however...Scottsdale and all the West area of Phoenix are where all the richies live...South and East is where you may find some good extended deals... The high country where it is alot cooler all start just a few miles North of Phoenix... Sedona is a beautiful place with all the Red Rock formations but on the richie side of life.. The Phoneix side of the high country like Payson and Prescott are great places to camp but probably too far out for you...I'm betting you will have to find places in the Mesa - Chandler - Apache Junction areas. Lots of stealth camping there I bet - Lots of transit folks in the Valley of the Sun...Type in 'RV CAMPGROUNDS' in google map search and you will find bunches of camp grounds everywhere...Roy Ken

I think I would wait until at least mid-Sept to try that. Way too hot to try to live in an RV in the summer. Should be able to find an inexpensive apt for the summer and look around for a good park for later in the year after you become familiar with the area.

Here's a start....study this site for pictures of campgrounds. They also have some on video (YouTube).I don't know if you've been to the Phoenix area RV parks previously but if not, you are going to find that the parks are filled with permanent Park Model trailers with some sites set aside for stand-alone RVs. You'll find that the big parks will have lots of activities if that interests you. Some parks have trees and some do not. For summer you are going to want some shade if you can.There are plenty of parks within an easy drive to downtown Phoenix. You should be able to find one to suit you.I'm sure you're aware that it will be up to 115 degrees or so in the summer and if you're paying your own electric it's going to cost you. Also, if you planned to turn off the AC during the day when you're at work, it won't be good for your furnishings and the AC will have a tough time cooling all the heated things down. Also try to park where your refrigerator will not be on the south or western-facing side. The hot sun will make that refrigerator work hard and probably won't cool as well. Covering your windows with foil insulation will help greatly.It can be done. Good luck!http://www.campgroundviews.com/listings/?fwp_location=33.4151843%2C-111.8314724%2C25%2CMesa%252C%2520AZ%252C%2520United%2520States

2gypsies wrote:Here's a start....study this site for pictures of campgrounds. They also have some on video (YouTube).I don't know if you've been to the Phoenix area RV parks previously but if not, you are going to find that the parks are filled with permanent Park Model trailers with some sites set aside for stand-alone RVs. You'll find that the big parks will have lots of activities if that interests you. Some parks have trees and some do not. For summer you are going to want some shade if you can.There are plenty of parks within an easy drive to downtown Phoenix. You should be able to find one to suit you.I'm sure you're aware that it will be up to 115 degrees or so in the summer and if you're paying your own electric it's going to cost you. Also, if you planned to turn off the AC during the day when you're at work, it won't be good for your furnishings and the AC will have a tough time cooling all the heated things down. Also try to park where your refrigerator will not be on the south or western-facing side. The hot sun will make that refrigerator work hard and probably won't cool as well. Covering your windows with foil insulation will help greatly.It can be done. Good luck!http://www.campgroundviews.com/listings/?fwp_location=33.4151843%2C-111.8314724%2C25%2CMesa%252C%2520AZ%252C%2520United%2520StatesAs usual GOOD advice - only thought is you may want to go there and stay a week in a couple different location or be ready to move if a better site becomes available.JAT,

Full timing in Ariz.I would try to find an RV park in higher elevations in the surrounding areas of down town Phoenix because of the heat in the summer months. Then in Oct. look for an RV park closer to down town Phoenix. I would start making your reservations for both right now. The closer you are to down town, the higher the RV rates will be. You should also be aware of and research the traffic congestion on major freeways, I-10 and I-17. Coming from areas into Phoenix can be a real cluster in the morning and the outgoing traffic can be a cluster.

Phoenix Area in the Fifth Wheel - for a year.. suggestions?

14 Replies

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Apr 19, 2016
No way to get away from the heat in the summer with a short commute but lots of sites available as the snowbirds leave. Casa Grande is probable cheaper but it's just as hot and 50 miles from Phoenix.

Look at Mesa going East along the 60 corridor, lots of places.
C7XR7
Explorer
Apr 18, 2016
Okay - thanks everyone for the input on this one. I took the advise of getting a furnished apt. Put my 5th wheel on craigslist and it sold a 1/2 hour later. Now I need to sell the B&W but that might need to wait until I have the time to deal with it. Someday in the future I may get to return to rv'ing.
wohtex
Explorer
Apr 18, 2016
So is a microwave!!!!!!!!!!!
mikestock
Explorer
Apr 18, 2016
Isn't it time for someone to say, "Don't worry, it's dry heat."
wohtex
Explorer
Apr 18, 2016
I also stayed at Leaf Verde RV Park in Buckeye, nice park for the winter. In talking with some of the folks that were permanent residence year around, they indicated they used 110 volt window air conditioner units, usually up to 3 in a 35ft FTW, because they were more efficient and cheaper to operate than the RV A/C. Talked to one guy who came in from Oregon in a TT and stayed last summer and he said it was BRUTAL, didn't know if his dog was going to survive, but they did.

Good Luck

Bill
MarkTwain
Explorer
Apr 17, 2016
Primarily because of the months of heat, I
Would suggest renting an apt. For the difference in cost
I think it would be a wash $$$ wise. Location to work, less traffic issues would be a plus??
JC435
Explorer
Apr 17, 2016
Traffic IS bad in Phoenix during rush hour. So, you may want to consider using the light rail. There are several park & ride locations.
missourijan
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
I know people are trying to be helpful but Apache Junction, Maricopa or Casa Grande are WAY too far for you to work downtown. DH's family lives there and we visit often. Phoenix traffic starts about 2:30 and you crawl along slowly. You need to find someplace close in. We usually stay at Leaf Verde in Buckeye but that is kinda far out too. Several years ago we stayed at Royal Palm Mobile Home & RV park. They have a separate rv section. It's an over 55 park and gated. It's right off I 17 on Dunlap, so decently close to downtown. Trust me, traffic is terrible.
Nutinelse2do
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
From someone who lived in Phoenix for 20 years.... Mesa and Apache Junction traffic will take you an hour plus to get downtown Phoenix.

Try the rv parks off I-17 and Deer Valley. It will be much closer to downtown, and you will have 2 optional routes. Either I-17 straight down to Indian School, if work will be in that area, or I-17 to 101 East to the 51 south for Camelback Corridor, depending where work is.

As others have stated... Plan on 5 miserable months, and if you have to pay for electricity, you will take it in the shorts.

There really is no choice, unless you want to stay in Camp Verde/ Cottonwood area. But, from there, plan on a 1 1/2 hour commute each way, at least.

There are a couple of pretty nice parks in the North Phoenix area. Monthly rates should be pretty inexpensive, since nobody in their right mind wants to be there from May through September. :-)

Edit... Ok...Desert's Edge RV Park ( The Purple Park ) or Phoenix Metro RV Park would be the recommendation, but there is also Desert Sands RV Park, and North Phoenix CG. The first two are much nicer than the latter.

There is also a couple in Goodyear area, which, depending on your work location, could be better. But, eastbound traffic on I-10 is actually worse than I-17.

Good luck. PM me if you need any local knowledge.
MarkTwain
Explorer
Apr 12, 2016
Full timing in Ariz.

I would try to find an RV park in higher elevations in the surrounding areas of down town Phoenix because of the heat in the summer months. Then in Oct. look for an RV park closer to down town Phoenix. I would start making your reservations for both right now. The closer you are to down town, the higher the RV rates will be. You should also be aware of and research the traffic congestion on major freeways, I-10 and I-17. Coming from areas into Phoenix can be a real cluster in the morning and the outgoing traffic can be a cluster.